Dragon 1/35 Sd.Kfz.184 Ferdinand (The Battle of Kursk) # 6726

The Sd.Kfz. 184 Ferdinand, also known as the Elefant, was a formidable German tank destroyer that played a significant role in the Battle of Kursk during World War II.

This heavy armored vehicle was designed to engage and destroy enemy tanks at long ranges.

The Ferdinand was built on the chassis of the Porsche Tiger tank prototype and was armed with a fearsome 8.8 cm PaK 43/2 anti-tank gun, one of the most potent tank-destroying weapons of its time.

Its frontal armor was exceptionally thick, providing excellent protection against enemy fire.

During the Battle of Kursk in 1943, the Ferdinand made its combat debut on the Eastern Front, where it was employed by the German Army as part of their efforts to repel the Soviet offensive.

Despite its formidable firepower and armor, the Ferdinand faced challenges in the form of mechanical breakdowns, limited mobility, and vulnerability to close-quarters combat.

As a result of its experiences at Kursk, the Ferdinand underwent modifications and improvements, leading to the development of the Elefant variant, which featured some design changes and additional armor protection.

While the Ferdinand had some shortcomings, it demonstrated the effectiveness of heavily armored tank destroyers armed with powerful anti-tank guns.

It remains an iconic symbol of German armored warfare during World War II and played a notable role in the early stages of the Battle of Kursk before being gradually replaced by more versatile and mobile tank destroyers in the later stages of the war.